HSV2 if no pain?

Two weeks after having sexual contact (no intercourse but genitals touched) I developed 3 or 4 nonpainful blisters that turned into nonpainful canker-like appearances on the foreskin of the penis. These do not hurt, itch or burn.

The NP at my doctors office prescribed STD blood tests and Valtrex. Waiting for swab results.

The herpeselect came back at pos 2.56. The blood test was 20 days after posible exposure. Too soon to take that?

What has me perplexed is there is pain, itching, or burning and 10 days into Valtrex there is still some sign of discoloring where the blistering appeared. Thought I would have seen a more dramatic improvement.

[gracefromHHP]

so no lesion culture of symptoms was done?

your hsv2 igg is a low positive. how long prior to this had you had sex? did you receive oral sex during the encounter in question?

grace

[cos465]

the test was done 3 weeks after.i am waiting on the culture results but i am freaking out.can't sleep, eat ect..

[cos465]

no, i didnt receive oral

[gracefromHHP]

how long prior to this had you had actual sex with someone?

[cos465]

Two months ago, early November

[gracefromHHP]

you need to wait 2 more months and then you can seek out a herpes WB to confirm your status.

[cos465]

what, if anything, do the blood test mean? also, i tested positive for staph on the same area. i imagine it could be a secondary infection on top of hsv2. is that common?

[bobrope45]

your blood test is a low positive and it should be confirmed. however, if you get a positive result in your culture swab, you can be sure this is herpes going on, as culture results are definitive.
the blood test means you have developed antibodies against herpes - that is, that you are infected with hsv2.

yes, herpetic sores might show bacterial infection, as any open sore can.

[cos465]

how can you be infected with hsv2 and not have herpes?

[bobrope45]

you can't - if you get a positive result in the Igg it means you have it.

however, as grace already told you, your results is a low positive and it should be confirmed. make sense?

[cos465]

additonal info, the woman i was with on 1-16 tested negative for hsv1 and hsv2.

[cos465]

also another doctor said the blood tests are of no use and he cannot understand why they are still used. He is saying if you have the antibodies it doesnt necessarily mean you have the virus only that you have been exposed to the virus....this is all very confusing

[bobrope45]

your doctor is outdated - if one gets a (confirmed) positive blood test for HSV2 IgG, it means this person carries the virus and is therefore infected. there's no such thing as being "exposed" to the virus.

the fact that your partner is negative for herpes only excludes a new infection for you. but if you ever confirm your status, it might just mean that this is an old infection for you. blood test take up to 4 months to become positive.

haven't you gotten your culture results yet?

[cos465]

no, not yet

[cos465]

The swab came back negative

[cos465]

looks like another ob....a single blister appeared on the side of penis....i have lower back pain that travels down the back of the leg as well.....i've had this same pain 3 or 4 times in the last 16 months but first time i recall with an ob..is it common that the blisters don't occur in the same spot?

[gracefromHHP]

if you have new symptoms, be seen today for a lesion culture and exam.

[cos465]

I am sure I have herpes because the blood test was 2.54. I have a second ob and was wondering if it is common to just have one blister and get it in a different spot than the first time.

[bobrope45]

Don't assume anything when it comes to herpes. Be seen by a doctor immediately to get the new blister swabbed! Otherwise you won't get a prompt answer anytime soon.
A low positive result (2.54) should always be confirmed through Western Blot.

[cos465]

If it is healed, the swab is of no use, I imagine. That's why, maybe, the swab the first time was negative. That is why I resigned myself to this awful fate and didn't get another swab right away.